138: Leading Lions and Prima Donnas: John Morgan’s Leadership Lessons – Part 2

Great Practice. Great Life. by Atticus

John Morgan doesn’t lead quietly—and he doesn’t build small. In part two of his conversation with Steve Riley, he shares the systems, standards, and mindset that built a law empire.

On this episode of Great Practice, Great Life®, Steve Riley welcomes back John Morgan, founder of Morgan & Morgan, for an insightful continuation of their conversation. In this episode, you’ll discover John Morgan’s leadership lessons on how to grow a law firm with integrity. He also shares how long-term vision, and well-built systems can support both business growth and personal success.

John shares the systems he created that allow his firm to scale without losing control. He highlights the importance of structure and transparency, sharing how internal checks to eliminate rogue behavior and uphold the firm’s standards. For any attorney managing a growing team, John’s insights on leadership, oversight, and operational discipline are invaluable.

The conversation shifts into legacy and personal life. John opens up about raising four humble and successful children. He emphasizes that leadership isn’t just about being a visionary; it’s about being a visionary maker. His insight into parenting, business, and firm culture shows how strong values translate across every part of life.

Throughout the episode, John shares analogies that bring his approach to life—from magic tricks and oil fields to casinos and card tables. He reflects on overcoming insecurity, navigating unpredictability, and creating opportunity through generosity, gratitude, and persistence. John Morgan’s leadership lessons are rooted in hard-earned experience and deep human insight.

This episode is more than a conversation; it’s a roadmap for building sustainable law firm leadership, straight from one of the most successful legal entrepreneurs in the country. Tune in for candid advice, actionable takeaways, and a clear blueprint for creating a lasting legacy, and building a great practice and a great life.

In this episode, you will hear:

• How to balance a successful legal career with a fulfilling personal life
• John Morgan’s insights on creating harmony between work and home
• Building accountable and transparent systems in your law firm
• Why adopting audited financials can accelerate growth and trust
• The surprising connection between magic tricks and trial law strategy
• How to recognize and seize opportunities in an unpredictable world
• Teaching discipline, humility, and work ethic to the next generation
• Overcoming vision blockers like self-doubt and envy
• The role of gratitude and generosity in building a great life

Follow and Review:

We’d love for you to follow us if you haven’t yet. Click that purple '+' in the top right corner of your Apple Podcasts app. We’d love it even more if you could drop a review or 5-star rating over on Apple Podcasts. Simply select “Ratings and Reviews” and “Write a Review” then a quick line with your favorite part of the episode. It only takes a second and it helps spread the word about the podcast.

If there’s a topic you would like us to cover on an upcoming episode, please email us at [email protected].

Supporting Resources:

• John Morgan: www.forthepeople.com/attorneys/john-morgan
• Morgan & Morgan: www.forthepeople.com
• Episode 137: Grow or Die: John Morgan’s Relentless Strategy for Law Firm Expansion – Part 1: atticusadvantage.com/podcast/grow-or-die-john-morgan
• Contact Atticus for a Free Assessment: atticusadvantage.com/contact-us
• Zendesk: www.zendesk.com
• WonderWorks: www.wonderworksonline.com
• Alcatraz East: www.alcatrazeast.com
• You Can't Teach Hungry: Creating the Multimillion Dollar Law Firm by John Morgan: www.amazon.com/You-Cant-Teach-Hungry-Multimillion-ebook/dp/B0CW1KSZ1M
• You Can’t Teach Vision: The Twenty-First Century Law Firm by John Morgan: www.amazon.com/Teach-Vision-Twenty-First-Century-MORGAN/dp/1941007384
• Give and Take: Why Helping Others Drives Our Success by Adam Grant: www.amazon.com/Give-Take-Helping-Others-Success/dp/0143124986
• The Summit: atticussummit.com
• John’s 2018 Summit Keynote Presentation: www.youtube.com/watch?v=7TOxZ9terqA

Episode Credits

If you like this podcast and are thinking of creating your own, consider talking to my producer, Emerald City Productions. They helped me grow and produce the podcast you are listening to right now. Find out more at https://emeraldcitypro.com Let them know we sent you.